Is your home in need of a good spring clean? Perhaps you’ve noticed how dusty your house now that the sun is shining in the windows, or maybe you’ve watched the Netflix show: Tidying Up with Marie Kondo. Either way, you’re not the only one feeling this way. Now is the perfect time to discover the life changing magic of tidying up - and we’ve got the tips to get you there.
It costs nothing to tidy and organise your home and the whole family can get involved. By the time you’ve finished your home storage will be efficient, you’ll be free of clutter and instead surrounded by the items that bring you joy. Let’s get started!
The hall area of a home is usually a narrow, cluttered space in the home. Marie Kondo suggests giving every item its own place to declutter and utilise this space.
Storage tips for your hallway:
When making changes to how you store items in your home, don’t forget your home security. Once completed, apply these tips to the other disorganised areas in your home.
Save the trees! Are you still receiving bank statements and bills by post? If so, you’re probably being charged to receive them. Arrange for your utility bills to be sent by email to help stop papers building up in your home clogging up your drawers and table tops.
Of course, not all paper can be thrown out. Keep important documents, such as birth certs and passports, together in a designated storage box. This box will be your go to place when searching for anything important and you’ll save time and hassle by just knowing where it is. No more “where’s my passport gone?” or “has anyone seen my birth cert” - you’re welcome!
This step is the foundation of Tidying Up with Marie Kondo. Marie advocates the Konmari Method - decluttering and organising your home by category, not location. She suggests beginning with clothes, then moving on to books, papers, miscellaneous items, and, finally, sentimental items.
Start by gathering the contents of the category you’re working on and place them in the centre of the floor or bed. Then, hold each item in your hands to show its value and decide there and then if it “sparks joy” within you. If it does, you can keep the item and if it doesn’t, you must thank the item and then donate it or dispose of it.
Marie says: “Keep only those things that speak to the heart, and discard items that no longer spark joy. Thank them for their service – then let them go”. This style of cleaning is philosophical: it’s both effective and mindful. The process will help you to appreciate what you have.
Get in to the routine of carrying out deep cleans on top of your day-to-day house cleaning. Aim to complete at least one deep clean every one to three months. Create a deep cleaning checklist for your home that includes the following steps:
The more regular your deep cleans are, the less of a task they’ll become!
Tip: Don’t overspend on cleaning supplies. White vinegar, lemon juice and other household items can often be used as an all-purpose cleaner.
Get everybody in the house involved! Whether it’s hoovering, emptying the dishwasher or hanging out the washing - there’s a suitable task for everyone. Keep younger kids interested by awarding points for tasks they complete. Keep track of the points on a chart and award them with a small treat each time they hit a target number of tasks.
Spreading the work helps to relieve the pressure on any one person in the home and makes everyone appreciate the time and effort it takes to keep the house clean. A job shared is a job halved after all!
Remember: Always work from top to bottom while cleaning
For the simple reason that dust and dirt fall from the top to the bottom as you’re cleaning. When cleaning your kitchen, don’t clean the counter tops before the cupboards only to have the crumbs from the cupboards fall onto your clean counter. Avoid cleaning surfaces twice by starting at the top and work your way down.
It’s also useful to choose a direction to clean in. Pick between clockwise or anticlockwise to ensure every part of the room is cleaned. Consistency is key!
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